Wim DriesMayor Genk – 18.09.2012

Welcome

Small cities canmake a difference

Culture – Creativity – InnovationThe key to success

John Cleese:“If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play”

Creative industries as drivers of regional growth & cohesion

6th Cohesion Report (2009) focuses on ‘creative and innovative regions’ to contribute to deliver the Lisbon Strategy.

- Regional dimension- Dynamic in soft and hard innovations- Cross-sectoral impact

Creative and cultural clusters forEuropean regions

Definition for ‘creativity’: multi disciplinary way of mixing culture, art, innovation and technology

- Creative industries: strong high tech / R&D content; manufacturing or services; anchored but mobile- Cultural industries: mass production of artistic content = cultural enhancement of economy- Experience economy: the commercialisation of experiences, heritage & tourism, …

What creative policy for Europe?

- Investment in human capital � Talent- Tolerance towards soft and artistic skills- Understandig of places’ cultural resources and theireconomic value- Combination of soft and hard innovation- Combination of manuf+services � hybrid goods and services with strong and unique competitive advantage- Local and global linkages (digital tech, media, ICT)

Conclusion:Cultural Creative Industriesdepend on talent, context, networking and entrepreneurialdynamism

Bron: Dr. Lisa De Propris – University of Birmingham – Birmingham Business School

Creativity and design in Genk

1. Communal policy: room for design

�Design = part of the city’s innovation policy

� Growing towards a creative manufacturing and knowhow economy

• By reinforcing the economic structure• By supporting new entrepreneurship• By preventing the brain drain

� Design as a lever for the communcal policy and supporting private initiatives

2. Ideas / points of view of design

� Aesthetic surplus value in the city scene�Renewing and broadening communal

�Economic development opportunity�City’s marketing instrument

�Levers for development

Kattevennen –NPHK

Public library

Privat living

2. Ideas / points of view of design

�Aesthetic surplus value in the city scene�Renewing and broadening communal

products�Economic development opportunity�City’s marketing instrument

�Levers for development

O-parade – 1st of May

�Creative talent in Genk

Creations in public area

Column - Luciano Fabro Pieter Vermeersch

Gadgets and souvenirs

“Genker servet” Linde Hermans 1st of May egg cupPiet Stockmans

WristbandGenkonStage

Michaël Verheyden

2. Ideas / points of view of design

� Aesthetic surplus value in the city scene� Renewing and broadening communal products

� Economic development opportunities� Fostering and stimulating the potential� Creating a fertile soil� Bringing forth innovative projects

� City’s marketing instrument

� Levers for development

Fostering and stimulating the potential

�A solid ground for creative entrepreneurs in Genk & Limburg

�HUMIN

Michaël Verheyden

Eden Design

CarbonPainting with LightNascom

City motive:

Turning problem situations into opportunities

A diverse conversion process

Give the site, with respect to the past, a new and significant function within the city

Strong and impressive industrial heritage

Extensive complex of monumental buildings - buildings and interior/equipment are classified -conversion is no simple task

Give the site a powerful role in the Genk city label: innovation,

creativity and sustainability

Education: Media & Design AcademyFaculty of Arts

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Tourism & recreational offeringsTourism, slag heap, cultural heritage

4 development pillars: creativity as carrier

Artistic creation and presentationStage rooms, exhibitions, meetings, products and projects

Stimulating creative economyProjects, business center, companies, business events

2. Ideas / points of view of design

� Aesthetic surplus value in the city scene� Renewing and broadening communal products

Economische ontwikkelingsopportuniteit

� Economic development opportunity� City’s marketing instrument� Levers for development

Instruments for marketing

�Fortify the image and the promotion potential of the city� Increase the city’s attraction� Stress the city’s entrpreneurial charachter through

innovative initiatives

�Communicating through new media

2.Invalshoeken van design

� Aesthetic surplus value in the city scene� Renewing and broadening communal products

Economische ontwikkelingsopportuniteit

� Economic development opportunity� City’s marketing instrument

� Levers for development: Thor Park Waterschei

THOR PARK WATERSCHEITHOR PARK WATERSCHEI

HARDWARE

Main Building

High-qualitybusiness park

Science Park

Main Building

- Facilities: restaurants, MICE, childcare, …- Leisure Edutainment- Manifesta 9 (June � October 2011)

High-quality business park

- Small & Medium size users- Large space users- Public private

partnership forinfrastructuredevelopment

Science Park

- In cooperation with K.U.Leuven / KHLim / UHasselt / LRM / POM

- Foundation of Holding withsubsidiaries forinfrastructuredevelopment

Science Park - ENERGYVILLE

- Pioneering Company- Collaboration between K.U.Leuven / VITO

/ IMEC

“Another word for creativityis courage”

“Creative people cluster in places that are centres of creativity and also

where they like to live”

- Richard Florida

Thank you!

You can find this presentation on:www.slideshare.com/wimdries

www.genk.be - info@genk.be